Electric iron



F. KUHN ET AL ELECTRIC IRON Jan. 1, 1935.

Filed April 28, 1930 2 \X 1 22 I 7; 14 4; I a

36 55 62 30 I I g INVENTORAY u/W MM 01% ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 1 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC moN Application April 28, 1930, Serial No. 448,098

6 Claims.

This invention relates to electric heaters and has particular reference to thermostatically controlled heaters.

The invention while capable for use in connection with various types of heaters finds particular utility when used in connection with electric irons and has as one of its objects to simplify, render more emcient and improve generally the construction of irons. Y

A further advantageous feature of this invention resides in the provision of an electric iron having a thermostatic switch assembly including adjustable regulating means for controlling the operation of the switch mounted upon the iron in such a manner as-to permit the same to be readfly assembled with and removed from the iron as a unit.

Other objects of the invention reside in the peculiar construction of the iron which permits the same to be economically manufactured and assembled with facility. These objects will be made more apparent as the description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of an iron constructed in accordance with this invention. I

v Figure 2 is'a fragmentary plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the iron with certain parts removed for the sake of clear- I ness.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be noted that there is illustrated in Figure 1 an electric iron 10 having a heat distributing base 11, a

I heating element 12 seated upon the base 11, a pressure plate 13 resting upon the heating element and a hood or cover- 14 for inclosing the heating element, pressure plate and the other parts of the heater to be presently described. The heating element 12 comprises a coil 15 havmg one-end 16 secured to a suitable terminal supporting bracket'17-which in turn is suitably secured to the heating element so as to form a unit therewith. Secured to the upper portion of the bracket 17 as at 18 is a suitable terminal 19 adapted to project through an insulator block 20 and through the cover 1401 the iron. The opposite end 21 of the heater coil is connected to a cooperating terminal supporting bracket 22 comprising a base portion 23 secured to the heating' element and a terminal supporting portion 24 secured to the base portion 23 and insulated therefrom. As shown in Figure 3, the base 23 and terminal supporting portion 24 of the bracket 22 are formed with lateral projecting terminal portions 25 and 26, respectively, adapted to be secured to a thermostatic switch 27 to be presently described. The portion 24 of the bracket 22 supports a terminal 28 which extends through the insulator block 20 in the samemanner as the cooperating terminal 19. Thus, it will be observed that an electric circuit is provided through the heating element and thermostatic switch.

The thermostatic switch 27 regulates the temperature of the iron by controlling the electric circuit through the heating element and comprises a pair of cooperating thermostatic strips 29 and 30 arranged within a recess 31 in the base plate 11 and having cooperating contact points 32 and 33 adapted to engage each other when the iron falls below a predetermined temperature to close the circuit to the heating element. Connected to the opposite ends of the thermostatic elements 29 and 30 and insulated from each other is a pair of terminal members 34 and 35 having upwardly extending portions detachably secured to the terminals 25 and 26, respectively, by means of the screws 36. The ends of the thermostatic elements opposite the contact points 32 and 33 together with the terminal members 34 and 35 are secured to the lower leg 3'7 of a substantially U- the upper leg 41 of the bracket is secured by means of a stud 42 to a plate 43 which, as shown, rests upon the pressure plate 13. The upper leg 41 of the bracket is preferably substantially parallel to the lower leg 32 and extends beyond the same as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The portion of the leg 41 extending beyond the leg 37 is formed with a threaded opening 44 therein for adjustably receiving a. suitable bushing 45. The interior of the bushing is also threaded and is adapted to adjustably receive a threaded element 46 terminating below the leg portion 41 in an enlarged substantially flat head portion 47 adapted to engage a. suitable projection 48 on the lowermost thermostatic strip 29. The arrangement is such that as the temperature of the iron rises above a certain predetermined point, the head portion 47 on the adjustable elementengages the projec tion 48 and prevents further movement of the lowermost thermostatic strip 29. As a conse;-'

y be regulated to the upper end of the adjustable element 46. The initial position of the enlarged portion 47 relative to the projection 48 is determined by means of adjusting the sleeve relative to the leg portion 41. As shown in Figure 1, the opening in the cover through which the adjusting element 46 passes is of suflicient dimension to permit the passage therethrough of a suitable tool. With this construction the bushing 45 may be adjusted from without the iron by merely detaching the control arm 49.

In order to limit the extent of adjustment of the element 46, we provide a suitable stop 50 in the form of a pin secured to the leg portion 41 and depending therefrom in the path of travel of a lateral projection 51 secured to the head portion 47. Thus, it will be observed that adjustment of the element 46 is limited to one complete revolution thereof. In order to compensate for any back lash between the teeth of the adjustable element 46 and the sleeve 45, we provide a flexible strip 52 having one end secured to the leg portion 41 by means of the stud 42' and the opposite end flexed downwardly from the leg portion 41 and engageable with the head 47 to normally urge the same to its lowermost position. The flexible strip 52 is held from lateral movements by engagement with the stop 50 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing.

As shown in Figure 4, the switch unit, hereinbefore discussed, pressure plate, heating element and base plate are secured in assembled position by means of fastener elements 53 having the head portions thereof engaging the plate 43 beneath the cover 14 soas to be concealed thereby and having the shank portions extending through aligned openings in the aforesaid plate and threadedly engaging the openings in the base plate. The upper end of the stud 42 for securing the bracket 38 to the plate 43 preferably projects through the cover 14 of the iron and threadedly receives a suitable nut 54 which serves to secure the cover in assembled position. The foregoing arrangement is such as to permit the iron to be readily assembled and economically manufactured. i

What we claim as our invention is:

1. An electric iron assembly having in combination, a base plate, a pressure plate above the base plate, a heating element interposed between the aforesaid plates, means for securing said plates and heating element together as a unit, means responsive to variations in temperature changes for controlling the operation .of the heating element including a switch insertable through a recess in the pressure plate to a position in close proximity to the base plate, a bracket member carrying said switch, and means removably securing the bracket to the pressure plate independent of the aforesaid fastening means whereby the bracket member and switch are removable as a unit through said recess without disassembling the plates.

2. An electric iron assembly having in combination, a base plate, a pressure plate above the base plate, a heating element interposed between said plates, fastening means for clamping. said plates and heating element together, a

bracket removably secured to the upper side of the pressure plate independent of the fastening means aforesaid and having a portion extending downwardly through a recess in said plate to a position in close proximity to the base plate, means for controlling the operation 5f the heating element including a thermostatic switch carried by the lower portion of said bracket and removable therewith through the recess aforesaid in the pressure plate in the assembled relationship of the latter with the base plate.

3. An electric iron having in combination, a base plate, a pressure plate above the base plate, a heating element interposed between the plates, a bracket removably secured to the pressure plate and having a portion extending downwardly in close proximity to the base plate, a thermostatic switch for the heating element removable as a unit with the bracket and secured to the lower portions thereof so as to be in heat conducting relation to the base plate, a cover for the assembly, means carried by the bracket for removably securing the cover in place, and adjustable means also carried by the bracket and accessible for manipulation exteriorly of the cover for regulating the temperature at which the thermostat operates.

4. An electric iron assembly having in combination, a base plate, a pressure plate above the base plate, a heating element interposed between said plates, a thermostatic switch for the heating element located within a recess in the base plate, a bracket detachably secured to the pressure plate and having a portion extending downwardly through a recess in the pressure plate of sufficient dimension to permit passage of the switch therethrough in the assembled relation of the plates, and means for securing the switch to the bracket.

5. An electric iron assembly having in combination, a base plate, a pressure plate above the base plate, a heating element interposed between the aforesaid plates, temperature responsive means for controlling the operation of the heating element including a switch insertable through a recess in the pressure plate to a position in close proximity to the base plate, a bracket having a portion extending downwardly through the recess in the pressure plate and secured to said switch, and means for detachably securing the bracket to the pressure plate whereby the bracket and switch may be removed as a unit through the recess in said pressure plate without disturbing the position of the latter relative to the base plate.

6. An electric iron assembly having in combination, a base plate, a pressure plate above the base plate, a heating element interposed between the aforesaid plates, temperature responsive means for controlling the operation of the heating element including a switch insertable through a recess in the pressure plate to a position in close proximity to the base plate, a bracket having a portion extending downwardly through the recess in the pressure plate and secured to said switch, means for detachably securing the bracket to the pressure plate whereby the bracket and switch may be removed as a unit through the recess in said pressure plate without disturbing the position of the latter relative to the base plate, and means for regulating the operation of the switch from a point above the pressure plate including an adjustable member carried by said bracket.

- FRANK KUHN.

LAURENCE H. THOMAS. 

